Infant&#39;s dressing-tray.



C. P. TOLMAN.

INFANTS DRESSING TRAY.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26.1915.

1 279, 944 Patented Sept. 24, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

C. P. TOLMAN.

INFANTS DRESSING TRAY.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26. I915.

Patented Sept. 24, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 CHARLES P. TOLMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

\ INFANTS DRESSING-TRAY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 191%.

Application filed J uly 26, 1915. Serial No. 41,865.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLEsP. ToLMA v, a citizen of the United States, residlng 1n the city, county, and State of New York, have invented the following descrlbed Improvements in Infants Dress1ng-Trays.

This invention is an apparatus for use 1n the care of infants, being particularly designed and adapted to provide a suitable and convenient support for the infant during change of its apparel (diapers) as well as a safe repository in which the infant may be left during absence of the attendant, and being also designed and adapted to form a portable support for an infants collapsible or flexible bath-tub, arranged to be combined therewith as hereinafter explained, the underlying purpose of the invention being to simplify and lighten the labors of the mother or nurse, as well as to promote the comfort of the infant. It is likewise the purpose of the invention to accomplish such objects with the least complicatlon of structure and at the least cost of manufacture, and in such manner that the device shall be collapsible or foldable so as to be capable of shipment and storage in compact form. These and other objects are attained by the structure shown in the drawlngs, which represent the present preferred form of my invention but which are not to be understood in any sense as limiting the nvention except as specifically expressed 1n the appended claims.

In these drawings,

Figure 1 represents a perspective View of the device with the guard section lowered.

Figs. 2 and 3 are sectionaldetafls of the guard section in different positions.

Fig. 4 is a section of Fig. 2, taken through the horizontal plane of the latch.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view ofthe device with the flexible bath-tub in place.

Fig. 6 is a plan of the bath-tub unfolded; and

Fig. 7 is a detail of the bath-tub corner.

The device comprises a trough-shaped tray body about three feet long, mounted on legs near its ends of sufiicient height to adapt the tray body to be drawn over the knees or lap of the infants attendant when seated. The rear edge or margin of the tray body rises some four or five inches higher than the front margin and some six lnches above the tray bottom, which degree of elecastings reasonably thin vation has been found sufficient to prevent the infants rolling over the edge of the tray. Thefront margin is supplied with a removable guard section which, when in place, forms an upward continuation of that side of the tray to an elevation equal to the rear wall, giving the tray as a whole the appearance indicated in Fig. 5, and serving to confine the infant safely in the tray. When the guard section has been removed, as indicated in Fig. 1, the attendant has free and convenient access to the infant inasmuch as the forward edge of the tray body is supported at about the height of the attendants elbows.

While the tray body may be made in different ways, in the preferred form herein illustrated, it consists of a series of parallel wooden Slat members 1, secured by their ends to two metallic cross-frames 2, the arrange ment of the slats and frames being such as to give the tray a curved cross-sectional shape as illustrated in the drawings, the bottom of the tray merging gradually into the upright front and rear walls. This curvature of the tray body while adjunctive to the general idea of my invention, is a matter of considerable importance inasmuch as it not only promotes the comfort of the infant laid in the tray but also assists materially in keeping the blanket or quilt thrown over the tray in a smooth condition and free from wrinkles and also cooperates with the flexible bath-tub when supported in the tray, as later explained. The tray slats in the presentcase are spaced apart and are desirably formed of round rods, in fact, may be ordinary half-inch dowel sticks, and being wooden provide a certain resilience to the tray which is desirable, for obvious reasons. The metallic cross-frames 2 are initially formed with a series of open slat seats which are closed upon the slats by bending the metal margins of the seats over and, if desired, into the wooden slats, as indicated, for example, at 3 in Fig. 3. In this manner the two cross frames and the series of wooden slats are firmly and permanently united forming a unitary resilient structure of light weight. An additional longitudinal wooden frame bar 2 is socketed at 3 at the rear of each of the cross frames, for added strength. The cross frames 2 are desirably formed of and reinforced with marginal flanges as indicated. At their lower sides they are provided with sockets 4 to receive the legs 5. The latter may likewise be constituted of ordinary dowel sticks, about one and one-eighth inch in diameter, and when inserted in the leg sockets & may be secured therein by screws or pins 6, as indicated in the drawings. Obviously, the legs may be withdrawn from their sockets and compactly disposed within the tray when the device is to be shipped. Obviously also, the legs can be hinged to the crossframes if desired and for the same purpose. It will be noted, however, that the sockets 4 extend far enough below the tray body to constitute short legs of themselves, without the use of the dowel sticks 5, in which condition the tray may be used when placed upon a table or other convenient support.

The guard section above referred to is composed of wooden slats or dowel sticks like the body of the tray, similarly secured at their ends to two smaller cross-frames 7 and in order that the section may be moved into and out of its upstanding position without unduly encroaching upon the clear space between the legs of the device, intended for the attendants knees, it is arranged to move or swing from one posi ion an edgewise direction. For this purpose it is pivoted to the cross-frames 2 by means of two hinge links marked 8 and 9, respectively.

to the other in,-

Both of these links are pivotally connected to its respective cross-frame 2, on the inner sides, the two lower links 8 being PIVOtBd to .such frame on a common axis represented by the rod or shaft 10 which is journaled at its ends in the two cross-frames and to which the links are fastened so that both of them are constrained to swing in unison. The other ends of the links 8 are connected to the cross-frames 7 at the lower extended ends thereof respectively. The centers of the links 8 and 9 are so related that the guard section moves in an edgewise direc tion from a position upstanding from the front upwardly-turned margin of the traybody, as shown in Fig. 3, to a position below and substantially parallel with said front margin as indicated in Fig. 2. The general path of its movement will be plain from these figures without further description, but it should be noted that when the tray is rested on the ends of its leg sockets, without using the legs 5, sufiicient space will be provided beneath the tray body to accommodate the hinging movement of the guard section, and it will also be apparent that when the tray is supported on the legs 5 and over the lap of the attendant as above explained, the edgewise movement of the guard section is accomplished without crowding the attendant. In' approaching its upstanding position the cross frames 7 of the guard section ride over the inwardly projecting and beveled end of a springpressed latch bolt 11, which thereupon snaps aerate into .a curved seat 12 formed in the lower edge of the said cross frame, thereby holding the guard section in its elevated position, and on approaching its depressed position another part, 13, of the cross frame rides over the same latch bolt which thereby also serves to hold the guard section in its depressed position.

The latch bolt is mounted to slide within the tubular pin 14, which forms the pivot for the forward hinge link 9, and is urged inwardly by a leaf spring 15, one end of which is riveted to the, cross frame 2 and the other end of which serves as a handle or projecting thumb-piece 16 wherewith to withdraw the latch. Such a latch bolt is provided for each end of the guard section and the two thumb-pieces 16 are turned downwardly so as to be the least subject to accidental operation. The uppermost wooden slat members of the tray body and guard sections respectively, both being thicker than the intermediate slats, are extended several inches beyond their respective metal frames 2 and form attachment means 21 for the flexible bathtub 17. The latter is formed of a fiat piece of rubber cloth or other waterproof fabric, as represented in Fig. 6, provided with snap fasteners 18, and arranged to be folded at its corners in the manner indicated in Fig. 7, the members of the snap fasteners being designed to engage through holes 19 in the folded portions so as to hold the corner plaits firmly together. The opposite end margins of the fabric blank are hemmed over cross-rods 20, which are provided with hooks or rings at their free ends adapted to engage the abovementioned extensions 21 of the uppermost tray slats, as shown in Fig. 5, and thereby support the water-proof fabric within the tray, forming a vessel or tub which rests upon the resilient floor of the tray and is laterally sustained by its front and rear walls, the hooked rods 21 serving merely to hold the end walls of the tub in an upright position. By this arrangement a firm and safe bottom is provided to the otherwise unstable flexible tub and the operation of washing the infant therein accordingly facilitated. It will, be observed that the tub can be lifted from its support when it is desired to empty it, and also that it can be readily restored to a perfectly flat condi tion for the purpose of cleansing it, and is thus free from the objection of permanent crevices at the corners.

It will be understood that when the device is in use, a blanket or quilt (not shown) will be thrown over the slatted tray body and that when the infant is placed thereon he will be supported in substantially horizontal position and full length, with no danger of his rolling over the rear margin while the attendant may readily turn him over as circumstances may'require in the adjustment of the diapers or clothing, and it will be evident .that the guard section may be raised whenever desired without interfering with the blanket, and when so raised will form a safe repository for the infant, from which he will not be at all likely to fall. When the guard section is lowered, access to the infant is provided in a horizontal direction, which particularly facilitates the work to be done, and the edge of the guard section'then constitutes a rest on which the attendant may support her arms while manipulating the infant or its clothing. When the bath tub is in place a pillow or other soft support can be inserted between one end of the tub and the floor of the tray, thereby raising that end and providing a support for the infants head clear of the water.

The ends of the tray are desirably left open, as shown, since experience has indicated no necessity for closing them, and the open-ended construction best accommodates the blanket and the tub. Moreover, the uppermost tray slate 1 on the rear of the tray is inset from the ends of the cross frame so that it cannot be pushed against the wall and possibly pinchthe infants fingers.

It will be obvious also that the bathtub can be placed in position and removed readily, and can be included with the legs 5, in the hollow of the trough-shaped tray body for shipment, making a neat and com-' pact bundle.

Having described the principle of my invention, the same is now claimed as follows:

1. An infants dressing tray comprising a substantially horizontal open-ended, troughshaped tray-body, the cross-sectional shape of which is curved, with the rear margin of the body higher than the front margin and of suitable height to confine an infant reclining in said tray-body, a guard section removably upstanding from the lower margin of said tray-body and supporting legs near the ends of the body providing a clear central space beneath the same whereby the tray body may occupy a position over the lap of the infants attendant when seated.

2. A dressing-trayfor supporting an infant during change of its apparel, consisting of a trough-shaped tray body having supporting leg-structures at its ends providing a clear central space beneath the same, whereby the said tray-bod ma occupy a position over the la of t e in ants attendant when seated, sai tray-body having a low front side permitting horlzontal.

access to the infant and a higher back side of suficient height to confine an infant reclining on said tray body.

infants dressing tray of the kind described, consisting of a substantially horizontal trough-shaped tray-body adapted to support the infant in recumbent posture, and having legs at the ends thereof supporting the tray-body with a clear central space beneath the same, whereby the said traybody may occupy a position over the lap of the infants attendant when seated, said tray-body having a low front side providing horizontal access to the infant, a relatively high rear side, a removable guard section, and means for removably securing said section in a position upstanding from the low front side of the tray-body.

4. An infants dressing tray consistin of a substantially flat-bottomed, curved-Si ed, trough-shaped tray-body adapted to support the infant in reclining posture, having rigid cross-frames at the ends thereof, means for rigidly supporting the said body over the attendants lap, said body also having a low front side providing access to the infant in a horizontal direction, and a relatively high back side adapted to confine the infant on the tray;

'5. An infants dressing tray consisting of a curved-sided, trough-shaped tray-body, adapted to support the infant in recumbent position and having rigid supporting means at the ends thereof, a low front side providing access to the infant in a horizontal direction, a guard section upstanding from said front side and adapted to be depressed from such position to form an arm rest, and a back side higher than the front side.

6. A device for supporting an infant in reclining position during change of its apparel, omprising a trough-aha ed tray-body having its rear edge hlgher t an its front edge, a guard section for the front of said body corresponding in height to the rear portion thereof and pivotal connections between said parts adapting said sectlon to move in an edgewise direction from an upstanding position on the front edge of sald body to a position beneath and substantially parallel with said tray bod and leg members for said body arranged thereon to provide clearance for the movement of said guard section from one position to the other In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES P. TOLMAN. Witnesses:

J OSEPH A. ZANG,

H. G. Merrmw. 

